Lawrence firefighters closer to 2 percent pay hike

Tentative agreement is 1 percent higher than earlier proposal

Lawrence firefighters have reached a tentative agreement with the city on a new contract that includes a 2 percent pay increase, a full point higher than than originally called for in 2015.

In a joint statement released Thursday afternoon, the city of Lawrence and union officials from IAFF Local 1596 said they were recommending passage of the tentative agreement that must be approved by the Lawrence City Commission.

A previous memorandum of understanding for 2012 through 2015 called for a proposed 1 percent pay adjustment for firefighters in 2015, both sides noted in a jointly issued news release. But the memorandum contained a provision that said either side could ask for a reconsideration, and the union exercised that option. The city and the local have been in talks since April, their statement said.

Union members voted to approve the new amendment Wednesday, union officials said.